For all dates listed, the deadline is 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

If there is a discrepancy between the deadline information on this page and other materials you may have received, you should adhere to the deadlines on this page.

Some programs will continue to accept applications after the deadline, if spaces are available. If you are interested in applying after the deadline, contact your department or program of interest to determine their policy on accepting late applications. 

Fall Semester

These are the application deadlines for applicants who wish to begin their graduate studies in fall 2025. For all dates listed, the deadline is 11:59:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time. If there is a discrepancy between the deadline information on this page and other materials you may have received, you should adhere to the deadlines on this page.

Ph.D. Programs
Deadline
Art, Art History and Visual Studies12/12/2024
Biochemistry12/02/2024
Biology12/02/2024
Biomedical Engineering12/04/2024
Biostatistics12/02/2024
Business Administration12/16/2024
Cell and Molecular Biology12/02/2024
Chemistry12/02/2024
Civil and Environmental Engineering12/16/2024
Classical Studies12/19/2024
Cognitive Neuroscience12/02/2024
Computational Biology and Bioinformatics12/02/2024
Computational Media, Arts, and Cultures12/12/2024
Computer Science12/16/2024
Cultural Anthropology12/05/2024
Developmental and Stem Cell Biology12/02/2024
Earth and Climate Sciences01/09/2025
Ecology12/02/2024
Economics01/06/2025
Electrical and Computer Engineering12/02/20241
English12/05/2024
Environment12/03/2024
Environmental Policy12/12/2024
Evolutionary Anthropology12/02/2024
Genetics and Genomics12/02/2024
German Studies - Carolina-Duke Program
(must apply through UNC Graduate School)
12/10/2024
History12/16/2024
Immunology12/02/2024
Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health12/02/2024
Literature12/02/2024
Marine Science and Conservation12/09/2024
Mathematics12/12/2024
Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science12/12/2024
Medical Physics12/02/2024
Molecular Cancer Biology12/02/2024
Molecular Genetics and Microbiology12/02/2024
Music01/09/2025
Neurobiology12/02/2024
Nursing11/26/2024
Pathology12/02/2024
Pharmacology12/02/2024
Philosophy12/05/2024
Physics12/02/2024
Political Science12/18/2024
Population Health Sciences12/02/2024
Psychology and Neuroscience (Clinical track)12/02/2024
Psychology and Neuroscience (All non-clinical tracks)12/02/2024
Public Policy Studies12/02/2024
Religious Studies12/12/2024
Romance Studies12/26/20242
Sociology12/19/2024
Statistical Science12/16/2024

1 Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. applicants: Applications submitted by 12/02/2024 are guaranteed review. Applications submitted after 12/02/2024 but before the closing date of 02/27/2025 will be reviewed based upon availability of space and funding.

2 Romance Studies Ph.D. applicants: Applications submitted by 12/26/2024 are guaranteed review. Applications submitted after 12/26/2024 but before the closing date of 03/06/2025 will be reviewed based upon availability of space and funding.

Master's Programs
Deadline
Analytical Political Economy01/30/2025
Bioethics and Science Policy03/20/20251
Biomedical Engineering02/03/2025
Civil and Environmental Engineering01/06/2025
Computer Science01/30/2025
Critical Asian and Middle Eastern Humanities02/17/2025
Dance (MFA)12/19/20242
Digital Art History/Computational Media01/30/2025
East Asian Studies01/31/20253
Economics01/16/2025
Economics and Computation01/30/2025
Electrical and Computer Engineering01/16/20254
Experimental and Documentary Arts01/30/2025
Global Health02/27/20255
Graduate Liberal Studies06/02/20256
HistoryNot accepting applications for 2025 enrollment.
Humanities03/13/2025
Interdisciplinary Data Science02/13/2025
Master of Arts in Teaching01/30/20257
Materials Science and Engineering03/13/20258
Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science01/16/20259
Medical Physics01/08/202510
Political Science02/17/2025
Population Health Sciences01/15/202511
Quantitative Financial EconomicsNot accepting applications for 2025 enrollment
Religious Studies02/03/2025
Slavic and Eurasian StudiesNot accepting applications for 2025 enrollment
Statistical Science01/06/2025

1 Bioethics and Science Policy applicants: All applications received by January 16, 2025 will receive a final decision by February 2025.  Applications received by March 20, 2025 are guaranteed review. After March 20, 2025, applications will be accepted on a space-available basis through May 29, 2025.

2 Dance MFA applicants: Late applications will be considered under special circumstances. Applicants are advised to contact Prof. Sarah Wilbur (sarah.wilbur@duke.edu) before starting an application.

3 East Asian Studies applicants: All applications received by January 31, 2025 are guaranteed review and will be considered for departmental funding.  Applications received after the priority deadline will be accepted for review on a space-available basis through April 24, 2025.

4 Electrical and Computer Engineering master's applicants: Applications submitted by January 16, 2025 are guaranteed review.  Applications submitted after the January 16, 2025 deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis through February 27, 2025.

5 Global Health applicants: The priority deadline is January 09, 2025, though all applications received by February 27, 2025 are guaranteed review.  Applications received after February 27, 2025 will be reviewed on a space-available basis through May 31, 2025.

6 Graduate Liberal Studies applicants: All applications submitted by June 02, 2025 are guaranteed review; however, applicants submitting materials by February 15, 2025 will receive an admissions decision by March 15, 2025 and will have priority consideration for financial aid.

7 Master of Arts in Teaching applicants: The priority deadline is January 30, 2025, though all applications received by February 20, 2025 are guaranteed review. Applications received after February 20, 2025 will be reviewed on a space-available basis through May 01, 2025.

8 Materials Science and Engineering applicants: The priority deadline is January 31, 2025. All applications received by March 13, 2025 are guaranteed review.

9 Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science master's applicants: Applications submitted by January 16, 2025 are guaranteed review.  Applications submitted after the January 16, 2025 deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis through February 27, 2025.

10 Medical Physics applicants: The priority deadline is January 08, 2025, though all applications received by January 31, 2025 are guaranteed review. Applications received after February 01, 2025 will be reviewed on a space-available basis through May 29, 2025.

11 Population Health Sciences applicants: The early application deadline is November 25, 2024. All applications received by November 25 will receive an admissions decision by January 2025. The priority deadline is January 15, 2025, though all applications received by February 27, 2025 are guaranteed review. Applications received after February 27, 2025 will be reviewed on a space-available basis through May 31, 2025.

Spring Semester

October 1: Deadline to submit all Ph.D. and master’s applications (except Graduate Liberal Studies) for the spring semester, space permitting.

October 31: Deadline to submit Graduate Liberal Studies master's applications for the spring semester.

Note: Very few departments accept new students for the spring term:

Ph.D.
Biomedical Engineering
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Master's
Bioethics and Science Policy
Biomedical Engineering
Graduate Liberal Studies
Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
Political Science

Summer session

Very few departments accept new students for the summer session. With the exception of applicants to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program (which begins in the summer), applicants who wish to apply for summer admission must obtain special permission from the department of interest and The Graduate School. Summer session applicants should adhere to the fall application deadlines.

If you missed the deadline

Once a program's deadline has passed, that program will no longer appear as an option on the application. Most programs will not consider any applications submitted after the deadline. Please contact the department directly to inquire about a late application submission.